How do you react to "near death" stories? Do we immediately ignore or think?

Question

I stumbled upon a article about an ex-atheist having a near death experience. Naturally, after "his experience" he now believes and is a Rev. for the United Church of Christ.

Personally, I'm not an atheist, and I think organized religion is dangerous, to a certain degree. I still haven't established any beliefs, except for maybe that I hope there is a God or some higher being. I guess that would be make me an agnostic, right? haha.

Here is my question: How does some one read this? Should it be read as an indication that MAYBE there is a heaven and hell? That maybe we should believing. Should it be ignored and considered as propaganda?

Here is the full article:

http://archive.southcoasttoday.com/daily/01-04/01-31-04/c04rg223.htm

Here is the shorter version:

http://www.neatorama.com/2007/07/20/near-death-experience-of-an-atheist/

One more thing, I believe there are other sources and book in the world than just the "holy book."

One last thing, I've read "The End of Faith."

I've also read "A Letter To A Christian Nation." by Sam Harris.

Answer 1

Who am I to question any persons belief?
z

Answer 2

Years ago I worked for an ambulance company in Phoenix, AZ. The first thing I picked up on is differences in peoples definition of near death. Example, if someone has led a trauma free life, has an accident of some sort which results in being unconscious, they often think it was a near death experience. My reaction to near death stories is always with skepticism because of that. As for the religion aspect. I really do believe, that as humans, we are programmed, or even "hard wired" to accept religion. I say that because all cultures, although separated by time and geography, have all developed some religion. It can be the people on Easter Island, a tribe in a Brazilian rain forest, the Incas, Mayans, Druids, it doesn't matter. All cultures develop religions. It must be a gene we posses.

Answer 3

This is an interesting question. I am a member of the IANDs association and I have been studying this for years. I am not pretending though that I am a doctor, I am just an educated laymen on this subject.

Virtually everyone who has had this experience is convinced that they experienced the afterlife. This is regardless of theological views, or in the case of atheist such as Howard Storm a lack of theological views.

In a recent presentation on the subject Dr Bruce Greyson reported the following case. A man " died " and went to the here after. He met relatives of his, but among the people who visited him was a person he did not know . He was later was resuscitated . He told his mother about this and she produced a photograph of a young man. He swore this was the person he saw.

He then learned a family secret. The man who had raised him was not his father. He was the product of a short affair. And the person he encountered had been his father.

Other interesting accounts can be produced. In the book Recollections of Death by Michael Sabom. Sabom was a doctor who at first was very skeptical of NDEs. But then he found patients who had undergone heart surgery and swore they had witnessed what had been done to them.

He decided to test their claims. He interviewed them on the nature of their surgery ( mind you know they were unconscious). To his surprise they recounted the information correctly. He then was curious to see how similar patients who did not have NDEs would do when asked to describe their surgery. They made numerous errors.

Much can be added to this. In the book Mindsight by Kenneth Ring he studied NDEs in those either born blind and/or those who became blind at a young age ( five and under ) They had visual based NDEs. This is very fascinating seeing people born blind or who become blind a young age do not have visual based dreams.

No skeptical explanation that has been proposed since Raymond Moody first reported this subject has withstood rational scrutiny. NDE experts report that they are baffled by this. This is very telling. A good way to know if a problem exist is that many mutually contradictory explanations arise to explain it. NDEs are a tremendous problem for attempting to reduce the consciousness to purely physical state.

However this does not prove the afterlife hypothesis, even if it seems to be the best explanation. Only time will tell with this view. However if accepted it will completely alter our view on the nature of man and the universe.

All human inquiry makes the following assumptions, we can trust out senses and we can trust the testimony of others. We assume this unless we have a compelling reason otherwise. Judging from the Sabom study it does not seem NDErs are hallucinating. I am left with the option of trusting them, seeing they have no reason to lie, but realizing though that I will not solve this mystery till I too die.

Answer 4

Being close to death is a fearful and anxious situation for anyone to encounter. I wouldn't believe in a cockroach god or a cockroach near death experience either simply because a creature had a brush with death.

It's one thing to have a discussion on inference, string theory and parallel universes and another to invent things to ease our fears and anxieties. Speak to any child who has trouble distinguishing fact from fantasy and dreams.

Some of the science explores the changes that are experienced in the brain of people who have made these claims. I remember a research study of people who made such claims. Printed messages were left on the tops of equipment and filing cabinets in hospital rooms. People claimed to be able to look down and see themselves, but weren't able to see the messages that were written for them.

Answer 5

I tend to believe most aren't manufactured yarns by the folk who experience them.

The near-death experience has convinced most people who've been there that,

1] Suicide's a BAD idea,
2] Life after death exists, and that whatever spiritual belief they carried in, they came out with a stronger one. Not necessarily Christian, Muslim, Buddhist. But they never come back as athiests.

To me that says a lot.

Answer 6

The ultimate life force of us all is connected through all religions and belief systems. It doesn't matter how you believe as long as you at least believe. Many people chose to do this through spirituality instead of religion. NDE's are not always about the Christian Heaven and Hell. Look at the link below.

Answer 7

These are sufficiently rife that one may suppose a common thread. Since there is no actual evidence of any sort of afterlife, the thread must be that these are simply an artifact of the brain's reaction to a high stress situation.

Answer 8

Near death- it's like seeing the preview to a movie you know you'll see later on.
And previews are the best part of the movie going experience.
Almost dying has saved my life so many times... wow!

Answer 9

properly, i'm a teenager myself -not a pregnant one- yet I have no difficulty with teem mothers. Any lady who's mature sufficient to settle for accountability for something so lifestyles-changing is somebody i glance as much as. fairly as a teenager, you are going to omit out on some issues like ending extreme college (each and every so often), being waiting to pass to golf equipment and purchase alcohol as quickly as you're sufficiently old, and so on. i know that's not how all circumstances are yet many youthful mothers DO omit out on something or different. i've got self assurance that a teenager can do basically as stable of a job as a 30-something year old lady would desire to elevating a baby. At each and all ages you will face an identical struggles and would improve up. human beings will inform you to attend until eventually you're "mature" sufficient. ok, sure there is a few adulthood in contact, yet you nevertheless won't know ninety% of what you will desire to do for a toddler until eventually you pass via it. a pal of mine is eighteen and that i've got self assurance she is approximately 30 weeks. i haven't talked to her in a rapid time although. Her and her boyfriend are very excited to deliver their little lady into the international very quickly. She has matured extensively basically considering that being pregnant. i'm confident she will have the capacity to mature plenty greater as quickly as the toddler is in her palms. i don't think in abortions. I had to evaluate it as quickly as and that i hated myself for the suggestions i replace into having. If a guy or woman can not top grant for his or her baby, there is the alternative of adoption. that's not constantly an elementary decision to make even even though it might desire to be for the greater suitable. all human beings desires help as a sparkling mom, not in basic terms babies. in case you have stable help out of your loved ones, you will do basically effective. thank you for giving this baby of undertaking at lifestyles. you're a wonderful person. stable success in the process the being pregnant. i'm hoping your toddler is born healthful. i don't know in case you intend on protecting the youngster, yet all the terrific to you!

Answer 10

What you haven't said is that you have read the Bible and studied it to "show yourself approved". All souls belong to God and when we die, we go directly to God. God answers my prayers. He exists!!! You are toying with your very soul!!!
There will be a Judgement Day, and I for one, do not want to show up unprepared!!!
God loved you enough to put you on this earth!!! Can't you love Him enough to read all about him and find out who He is??? Some souls will live eternally with God in Heaven and some souls will be permanently DESTROYED!!! I don't toy with my eternity!!! May God bless you.
P.S. And find out what Jesus did for you!!!